How to Choose your Local Grocery Store

Many things need consideration when choosing store to buy the majority of your shopping. To name a few: service, prices, supply, and suitable location, close to your home.

Service

You should receive and expect respect and courtesy from staff in any shop. There is nothing worse than standing in a shop trying to find a staff member to help you with an item. Many staff stand around, talking about what they did on the weekend and completely ignore you.

If that happens when you are trying to spend your hard earned money then maybe you should walk out and do not go back. Often the companies themselves are to blame because they do not employ enough staff. We cannot blame staff, if the shop does not employ enough staff.

Prices

With the cost of living forever increasing, the price of food is very important. We all have to watch the local papers for the best deals. It is a common fact that businesses in poorer localities have reasonable prices. Whereas the wealthier areas, charge astronomical prices, it is unbelievable. Shoppers should be aware that traveling from shop to shop does not pay, unless they are close by. If traveling long distances then the cost of fuel will out way the money you save on the specials.

Another thing to be aware of is the so-called markdowns. I have been overcharged many times with these. The assistants put a reduced price on the item, and then the cashier scans it. If the bar code is not covered with the sticker, you will pay the normal price, even though some supermarkets have a different system.

Always, check your dockets. I bought one can of Cooper's ale for eleven dollars twenty-five cents, then after paying the cashier, I checked my docket. I had been charged for two cans of Cooper's ale. This could be accidental as the keys on computerized registers are more sensitive to the touch than older registers. This has happened several times to me, so you need to be aware of this.

Supply of advertised specials

How many times have you checked out the specials and raced off to buy the item, only to find they have none left. A number of these shops have a few items in stock, and do not intend to purchase more. This is a common ploy on the assumption that you will buy something else while in their store.

Location

There is no point looking for specials if you have to travel more than a few kilometers from your home. If you do, then it may pay to shop fortnightly instead of weekly. Share the shopping trips with a neighbor or friend by using one car one week and swap the next.

Whatever you do be sensible, and watch out for the unscrupulous companies. The companies without enough staff or those who you do not receive the type of service you are entitled to expect.

Check your Dockets

Most of all before leaving any store, always check your dockets. So many thousands, yes thousands, of people are ripped off every day. Either the assistant scans it incorrectly, or the computer has not had the special prices or discounts recorded correctly.

It pays to check. All mistakes, can cost you valuable money when living on a budget.